TROY -- Gina Picarillo, 52, is a Troy native who is in training to run the Turkey Trot for the first time. She plans to run for a cause that is something of a departure from the norm: Picarillo is running to raise awareness about the importance of organ donation.

A little more than a year ago, her future was uncertain as she waited for a donor kidney.

"(My) renal failure began about 10 years ago due to hypertension," said Picarillo, a registered nurse at Albany Medical Center. "I was put on the transplant list three years before I was called for the transplant and was on dialysis for a short time."

On October 15, 2011 she received her new kidney courtesy of a donor and transplant surgery performed by nationally recognized transplant surgeon Dr. David Conti, director of Albany Medical Center's Transplant Program.

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"I celebrated my one-year anniversary last month. I am a healthy, active transplant recipient and I am grateful and thankful every day to my donor's family," she said.

In June, Picarillo ran her first 5k race when she participated in the Freihofer Run for Women in Albany. She wore a t-shirt emblazoned with "Running on a Donated Organ ...Kidney."

The Turkey Trot has always been a family tradition for her kids, 13-year old twins Jenny and Jillian, and her son Matthew, 15. Last year, when Picarillo stood on the sidelines of the Thanksgiving Day race she vowed to run in the 2012 Turkey Trot.

This year she will realize that wish, but she's not looking to break any records.

"I just want to run and believe that the Troy Turkey Trot will give me another chance to spread the word about organ donation," Picarillo said. "And I plan to wear my shirt with the words printed on it that say 'Running on a Donated Organ' and 'Ask Me How to Become a NY Registered Donor.'"

Since being diagnosed with renal failure and becoming a kidney transplant recipient, Picarillo has become a strong advocate for raising awareness about the need for organ donation. Its importance can't be overstated, she said.

"Getting people to register to become potential organ donors is so important," Picarillo said.

Potential donors must be listed with the New York State Donor Registry to remove any question about their intentions, should they meet with an untimely demise, she said.

For the month of October, Picarillo was one of 34 team leaders in the state affiliated with Campaign4Life.org, an initiative focused on increasing potential organ donor numbers. As of Oct. 31, she had earned the rank of second place for getting the most people to sign up, she said.

The Turkey Trot is another venue for spreading the word.

"I hope I can do more to help raise awareness of the importance of organ donation," Picarillo said. "I am so blessed and fortunate to be able to run the Turkey Trot, and most of all, I want to thank all the donors and their families out there. They're all heroes!"